Firefighters battle boat fire off Airlie Beach marina

Seven people, including four children, have avoided injury after being rescued from a fire that sank a vessel near Pioneer Rocks off the Whitsundays Coast.

Seven people, including four children, have avoided injury after being rescued from a fire that sank a vessel near Pioneer Rocks off the Whitsundays Coast on Monday morning.

Early reports said the fire had started at the rear of the boat just before 10am and the occupants had escaped to another boat.

An ambulance spokesman said all seven had been rescued unharmed.

A fire service spokeswoman said crews battled the blaze until the boat was fully submerged by 11.15am.

A police spokesman said the cause of the blaze remained undetermined, and detectives from Whitsundays police station were investigating.

Boat fire off Airlie Beach marina. Picture: Ben Quick

Originally published as Firefighters battle boat fire off Airlie Beach marina